00:00U.S. President Donald Trump has just signed into law a bill that could pave the way for deeper ties with Taiwan.
00:06It's called the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act.
00:10It requires the U.S. State Department to review U.S. guidelines for how it engages with Taiwan at least every five years,
00:17and then report to Congress.
00:19In those reports, officials must explain how the guidelines deepen U.S.-Taiwan relations
00:24and identify ways to lift restrictions on engagement with Taiwan.
00:28The law isn't specific about what those restrictions are,
00:32but they could involve things like high-level visits to Taiwan by U.S. officials.
00:37This law could expand U.S. interactions with Taiwan.
00:40One of the bill's co-sponsors says it would strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations
00:44and send a message to China that the U.S. stands against its efforts to dominate the region.
00:50Now, it's important to explain that the U.S. doesn't officially recognize Taiwan
00:54and instead has diplomatic relations with China.
00:58But it does engage with Taiwan unofficially, which is what this bill is referring to.
01:02But today, Taiwanese officials are celebrating this bill as a win for U.S.-Taiwan relations,
01:08with the foreign minister saying this on Wednesday.
01:10What we'll be looking out for next is what these reports to Congress will say,
01:15and if they end up advocating for any kind of relaxing of restrictions on U.S. engagement with Taiwan,
01:20What we'll be looking out for next is what these reports to Congress will say,
01:26and if they end up advocating for any kind of relaxing of restrictions on U.S. engagement with Taiwan.
01:33What we'll be looking out for next is what these reports to Congress will say,
01:39and if they end up advocating for any kind of relaxing of restrictions on U.S. engagement with Taiwan.
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